But what if you could capture many of the qualities that make professional systems so effective without putting in any of the hard work? That’s the goal of “Luminous,” a new integrated lighting and sound system by Iranian designer Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi. In order to achieve soft, indirect lighting that feels like it could be coming from the sky and omni-directional sound, this product is loop-shaped and hangs in the air overhead.

Typical home surround sound systems require you to carefully place speakers around the room. With Luminous, as long as you’re sitting beneath it, you can enjoy the same effect without any wires at all. It creates “dome-shaped sound” within the room while also providing illumination thanks to a system of LED light sources and an acrylic diffuser. The light reflects off the ceiling overhead for a uniform, low contrast and slightly muted effect, like daylight diffused through a sheer layer of clouds.

Luminous consists of the loop-shaped lighting and sound unit, as well as a bluetooth audio adapter that allows the user to adjust the lighting and sound wirelessly, as well as stream sound and music from personal devices like phones, game consoles, and televisions. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the LEDs based on the ambient light level in the room. Twenty small speakers built into the loop output the sound through separate channels at different intensities from a 360-degree radius, mimicking the effect of surround sound.

The product’s website reads: “The main design philosophy of Luminous is to create atmospheres and emotions that the users desire to feel, including peace, excitation, and companionship with friends and colleagues in working or living spaces. On this basis and at the first step, various concepts were generated, and it was concluded that the combination of light and sound in a single product [could] be a practical solution. Our aim was to create a spatial sound system and natural and efficient lighting solution. Accordingly, and during the second phase, sound and light generation and perception in nature were investigated.”

“Ergonomic guidelines for lighting design [were] also studied. Then, applicable technologies, the design trend of the current samples, and the product environment were analyzed. In this point (phase three), the limitations and potentials for further development became clear and design criteria identified. During the next phase, various ideas were generated, evaluated, and repeatedly modified. Finally, a detailed model of the selected idea was produced and presented.”

Winner of a 2019 Silver A’ Design Award, the Luminous Lighting and Sound System is a pretty cool innovation that could give us a hint at what to expect from home electronics in the near future.

The post Luminous Loop-Shaped Lighting Doubles as a Sound System first appeared on Dornob.

A reboot of an earlier series entitled Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the hit Netflix original series follows five stylish gay men as they give what could be characterized as “whole life makeovers” to selected subjects. Consisting of food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, fashion expert Tan France, culture expert Karamo Brown, design expert Bobby Berk, and grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness, the team excels at drawing tear-jerking emotional narratives out of each makeover, and the results of their efforts are almost always astounding.

Naturally, it’s Bobby who plays the biggest role in contributing to the design of the loft spaces, where the team gathers to watch the big reveal of each episode. While the first two seasons were set in Atlanta, the latest takes place in Kansas City, necessitating a fresh set that reflects the quintet’s modern yet approachable style.

Bobby wanted the latest loft to be both beautiful and functional. Collaborating with both West Elm and Queer Eye production designer and stylist Tommy Rouse, he transformed an open loft space in the city’s Firestone Building into a cozy hangout with multiple vignettes spread throughout the room.

“The loft was a big open space before we used it, so I wanted to create a space that was not only functional for what we needed to use it for, but also had different areas that allowed the space to feel more familial and comfortable,” Bobby says. “Creating different vignettes throughout the room in a cohesive color palette allows me to define the different spaces without having them feel separate from each other.”

“I love the West Elm Pictograph media console that we used under the TV. Finding a good decorative piece that also gives a lot of storage is not always the easiest, and this one does both. Open spaces can be overwhelming for people. They can often go cold and sterile, so I like to bring in warmth through texture and subtle color like we did here as well as some wood elements like you see in the credenzas and as accents on the furniture.”

You can check out more shots of the loft and shop many of these products, including the Andes Sectional, Leather Coral Counter Stools, LED Hoop Chandeliers, and Terrace Bar Cart, at West Elm’s blog Front + Main. You might also want to check out a fun behind the scenes post they wrote about filming a scene at their Kansas City retail location.

“When you come into someone’s home and completely transform their space, it also allows you to transform and change their life,” says Bobby. “I feel so lucky that I am able to help redesign the spaces that our heroes live in, and work with them to teach them how having an organized and clean space can translate directly into their daily life. Surrounding ourselves with things that make us happy allows us to bring that same feeling into the rest of our lives. But that happiness doesn’t have to mean something you buy — it could simply come through by changing around the layout of your room or organizing your room to get rid of what you don’t use. Happiness starts in your home, and I love that I can help our heroes find that.”

If you love interior design and you’re not already watching this feel-good reality series, grab some popcorn and prepare to binge (and take more notes from Bobby). Seasons one, two, and three are currently streaming on Netflix.

The post Queer Eye: Take a Virtual Tour of the Fab Five’s Season 3 Loft first appeared on Dornob.

All identical replicas of the original Iron Throne, they include “Throne of the Forest” in the United Kingdom, the “Throne of Valyria” in Brazil, the “Throne of Joy” in Spain, the “Throne of the North” in Sweden, the “Throne of Ice” in an undisclosed location in the Arctic, and a mystery throne that the network announced they’d reveal once someone found the “Throne of Ice.” The hunt officially began on March 18th, when the network tweeted a cryptic video alongside the hashtag #ForTheThrone.

Those hints may seem maddeningly vague, but eager scavengers have already located the bulk of the hidden thrones, including the most obscure of them. Superfans immediately set off for the spots where they thought they might find the treasures, including one Josefine Wallena of Sweden.

“When I saw the snow, I was like, ‘Wait a minute. This may actually be Sweden,’” she says in an interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday. “And when I read the first clue, I was sure right away that it was in Sweden. The clue for it said a crown for each of the three stags.”

It makes sense that Wallena would immediately recognize that clue, given that the Swedish national emblem features three crowns. After taking a close look at an hour-long “Throne of Ice” video posted by the official Game of Thrones account on YouTube, she felt like she had an idea of where it might be, driving eight hours and hiking a mountain in search of a recognizable U-shaped valley called the Lapponian Gate. It was there that she discovered the throne, covered in snow, more than 150 miles into the Arctic Circle.

Fans quickly tracked down the elusive “Throne of Ice” almost as quickly the rest, finding it tucked away in British Columbia’s Tumbler Ridge. After that, HBO finally revealed the video for final “Throne of the Crypt,” which itself was (fittingly enough) discovered in Queens, New York. A lot more fun than an Easter egg hunt, the quest plays brilliantly into the nail-biting anticipation leading up to the premiere of the show’s final season on April 14th.

If you’re disappointed that you missed out on the hunt, you can still #BleedForTheThrone thanks to a novel alliance between HBO and The Red Cross. Fans who give blood through the non-profit organization during April will be automatically entered to win a full-sized Iron Throne. Surely your family won’t mind if you get rid of your couch to make room for this iconic piece of furniture, right?

The third part of HBO’s promotional blitz for the show is #CreateForTheThrone, which challenges artists to recreate notable Game of Thrones props like dragon eggs, jewelry fit for queens, Cersei’s floor map, and weapons like Oathkeeper and Longclaw. Check them all out on the Making of Game of Thrones website.

The post HBO Hides Iron Thrones Throughout the World Ahead of “Game of Thrones” Finale first appeared on Dornob.

For those reasons, watching a baseball game in person is as much about the experience of the stadium as it is about the game itself. A great ballpark is like a great public park or beautiful beach: if the scenery is appealing enough, you will completely relax and enjoy your activity, be it a picnic, a book, or a sporting event.

In November of 2018, when the Oakland Athletics released renderings for their new Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)-designed stadium, the team showed fans what they could expect starting in 2023. Gensler and James Corner Field Operations are also part of the project. Following the example of other North American professional sports teams who have recently built new mixed-use entertainment projects, such as the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL and the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA, the Athletics are proposing a new community for Oakland’s Howard Terminal, with their $700 million, 34,000-seat stadium as the centerpiece.

Building arenas and stadiums in the middle of nowhere may have been the norm in the 20^th century, but today, professional sports facilities are more commonly built alongside entertainment and leisure districts, where residents can live close to the action. Condos and public amenities are now extensions of the caps, jerseys, banners, and other merchandise being offered on the grounds.

The Athletics’ new Howard Terminal location would be right by the water near downtown Oakland, with an actual park built onto the roof of the stadium. Inspired by the layout of Shibe Park in Philadelphia, where the Athletics played from 1909 to 1954, the stadium opens up to plaza at centerfield to give fans a theatrical entrance to the inner bowl. Around the stadium itself will be pedestrian malls and mixed-used buildings with slanted roofs — one of BIG’s most signature design gestures.

For those who are unfamiliar with baseball or the Oakland franchise, the Athletics currently play in what some say is the worst stadium in all of Major League Baseball. The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, known simply as the Coliseum, looks dated, decrepit, has too many seats too far from the field, and is surrounded by a large unsightly parking lot. It is not an exciting place to watch a baseball game. Returning to the comparison of a great ballpark to a beautiful beach, the Coliseum can be thought of as an ugly beach with dark sand and unpleasant water. Not the best place to enjoy anything.

The team hopes to eventually purchase the Coliseum for $135 million and convert it into a sunken amphitheatre for Minor League Baseball in the middle of a municipal park, with residential, corporate, retail, and institutional projects all throughout. The adjacent Oracle Arena, where the NBA’s Golden State Warriors currently play, will be transformed into an events venue around the same time.

As promising as this project is, it is far from the first proposal for a new Oakland stadium. There are still many local approvals that have to be obtained before this project gets built and a new era of baseball can begin in the city. With any luck, this will be the time the team and their fans aren’t left stranded on base.

The post Will the Oakland Athletics Finally Get a New Stadium? first appeared on Dornob.

The Allosky

Described as having a “cinematic field of view,” the Allosky VR headset is equipped with 1080p per-eye resolution to ensure a high-quality, high-fidelity experience whilst in-flight. VR allows for a far more immersive experience than any other form of standard in-flight entertainment, fully immersing the passenger in whatever whimsical world they choose to enter.

VR headsets can transport you to anywhere you want to be, from a comfortable virtual living room to a first class movie-theater. Pair that with with a killer set of noise-cancelling earphones, and it seems like the user could almost forget that they were even on a plane in the first place! This would be especially beneficial to those who normally get sick or anxious from flying. The headset boasts 2D, 3D, and 180-degree viewing capabilities, is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ready, and can freely adjust its focus to accommodate all levels of eyesight.

Everything you need to enjoy the Allosky is already integrated into the headset, which means no external batteries or hard drives are necessary. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor is responsible for the headset’s high-resolution displays, and while the battery may last only a few hours at a time on it’s own, it can be run indefinitely off the plane’s power in this case. Still, the device is generally portable and ultra light, weighing less than the tablets most airlines currently use for in-flight entertainment. Multiply that weight difference by a couple hundred, and you start to see how the headsets could even be helping the airline save money and burn less fuel.

Currently, the headset has access to content from DreamWorks, Lionsgate, National Geographic, BBC, 20th Century Fox, Baobab, Warner Brothers, and many other companies, offering everything from world-class TV series and Hollywood blockbusters to documentaries and ambient visual displays for the passengers’ enjoyment. The Allosky is set to launch on some of the longest transcontinental flights in the United States (including those from Boston to San Diego and Boston to Seattle), giving it a chance to prove that it can really keep people immersed for the long haul.

The Allosky is going to be a great way for Alaska Airlines to differentiate itself from its competitors, and as the first airline to trial a virtual reality experience, it’s sure sure to expose a ton of unsuspecting passengers to a piece of technology they’d only ever heard whispers of before. The future really is exciting!

The post Alaska Airlines is Making VR a Part of the First Class Experience first appeared on Dornob.

That’s exactly what the committee judging the Ross Pavilion International Design Contest was looking for, so it’s no wonder that this proposal from the American architecture firm wHY took home the top prize, beating out a number of strong contenders from big-name firms like the Bjarke Ingels Group. The shortlisted proposals were selected from 125 entries and can all be seen on the competition’s website.

The brief called for an original design that would enhance Edinburgh’s reputation and image “as a dynamic and creative city,” rejuvenating the existing gardens and enhancing their biodiversity. The gardens not only act as a “green lung” for the city, but they also serve as a tranquil getaway full of visual and sensory pleasures. The brief also called for entrants to incorporate sustainable values, improved physical and intellectual access, a variety of changing usages from dawn to dusk, and a modern, flexible venue space that could host a combination of small and large-scale events 365 days a year into their proposals.

The winning design from wHY features a “butterfly” pavilion and a new visitor center subtly folded into the landscape, ensuring that the castle remains the primary focal point. Drawing inspiration from the gardens’ history and geological features, wHY’s Victorian-style “pleasure garden” offers entertainment, art, and thousands of botanical delights. Plus, sliding the architectural elements beneath the gardens maintains the greatest amount of green space relative to manmade surfaces.

“This is a special opportunity for a special place, not just for Edinburgh but for the world,” says Mark Thomann, wHY’s Landscape Design Director. “The new Ross Pavilion and Gardens draw from the rich natural history, heritage, and creative spirit of Scotland, embodying a model approach for integrating public architecture and urban space in a top global city. Our team looks forward to realizing this vision with the Ross Development Trust and the people of Edinburgh.”

Paved pathways meander around the gardens to provide views from a variety of angles, making them easy to navigate for all visitors. The lines are all fluid and organic. A big part of this proposal’s appeal over those by architectural titans like BIG and Sou Fujimoto is the sense of balance it creates, keeping everything within a human scale so that no one element overwhelms the design’s overall program.

“Their proposal is a landscape scheme that is really more like an energy-field: using animation and drama as well as open vistas, they transform the Gardens and create an experience that is much freer and organic,” says competition director Malcolm Reading. “As is their style, they conscientiously sampled local opinion and have come up with a design proposal that is engaging and refreshing.”

The new West Princes Street Gardens are expected to open to the public by December 2019.

The post Undulating Rooftop Garden Wins Edinburgh’s Ross Pavilion Contest first appeared on Dornob.

Affected by an eight meter change in sea level from front to back, Queen’s Parade has never been an easy site to develop any kind of construction on. Throughout the planning process, FaulknerBrowns had to be extremely mindful of this geographic feature. The architects also had to work around a lot of the area’s already-existing urban and residential developments. Of course, the design team won’t be alone in executing this mammoth task. The revitalization project is the product of a big collaboration between the city council, developer Angelvale Consortium, and a slew of other local organizations and committees.

Among the proposal’s most promising features is the addition of a four-star hotel, which will directly overlook the waterfront and be able to house 80 guests at a single time. The latter point is particularly important to the Queen’s Parade area, whose shortage of suitable accommodations has plagued its tourism industry for decades now. The hotel will be operated by Beannchor, a local group that already runs a number of successful lodgings across Ireland. Guests of the hotel will be able to access an adjoining family entertainment center that has its own virtual reality area, adventure playground, and indoor surf rider. While the kids are busy in the entertainment center, the parents might want to venture into the nearby public square, which will boast a movie theater and a concert venue!

FaulknerBrowns also intends to run a covered courtyard, or “winter garden,” through the revitalized Queen’s Parade, allowing visitors to explore the area without having to worry about potential rainfall. The canopy will be an angled timber structure that keeps people dry while adding a layer of elegance to the commercial premises around it. The winter garden will be lined with tons of easily-accesible shops, restaurants, and cafes, and since it’ll be covered, it can also be used to house temporary attractions like farmers markets, pop-up events, and exhibitions. For added convenience, a 360-space parking lot will be erected near the back of the site.

The FaulknerBrowns proposal is looking to capitalize on and prolong the region’s recent spurts of tourism, which can be attributed to Northern Ireland’s many appearances in the popular TV show Game of Thrones. As a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland has also been impacted by the Brexit referendum. Needless to say, these plans arrived at a good time and are sure to bolster the confidence of the city’s inhabitants. When the project is completed, Queen’s Parade will be the perfect place for families to escape to for the weekend. The best part is, they’ll be able to enjoy all of the complex’ recreational facilities rain or shine, and that’s important in a gloomy place like Ireland!

The post FaulknerBrowns to Redevelop Queen’s Parade first appeared on Dornob.

On February 10, Netflix released a new series titled “Abstract: The Art of Design,” delving into the minds of some of the world’s biggest innovators in the design industry.

The term “Netflix and Chill” has become synonymous with a quiet night in. With its array of programming, from TV series to documentaries to foreign language films, Netflix has dominated the domestic viewing market. Shows like Stranger Things are making headlines and winning Golden Globes, and series that profile figures from niche industries, such as Chef’s Table, have proved hugely popular with viewers who want insight into the mind of the most talented in the world. Now designers can nerd out over their chosen field, too!

The series gathers together some of the design world best across a broad range of industries, from automotive to interior design and illustration. Eight 45 minute-long episodes were released in their entirety earlier this month, allowing us to accompany these designers as they talk us through their creative process, individual achievements, career highs and lows, and their design philosophy. For example, in his episode, Danish wunderkind Bjarke Ingels talks to us about his architectural philosophy, one which his studio BIG employs to push traditional architectural boundaries and challenge the limitations of the industry.

But, on the other hand, Tinker Hatfield is the master of cool in his episode, which charts his rise at Nike and how he designed some of the brand’s most coveted, novel and collectable shoes, including the Nike Mag from Back To The Future, and the staple Nike Air Max. Much like Chef’s Table, each episode has its own narrative and aesthetic, crafted by different directors such as award-winning music documentarian Morgan Neville, who also produced the show in collaboration with WIRED creator Scott Dadich.

Abstract profiles the following creative masterminds: set designer Es Devlin, graphic designer Paula Scher, architect Bjarke Ingels, car designer Ralph Gilles, photographer Platon, interior designer Ilse Crawford, illustrator Christoph Niemann, and Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield.

Abstract is the latest in a string of successful original programming by Netflix, who reach a global audience of more than 93 millions viewers in over 190 countries. Notable documentaries such as 2007’s Helvetica have propelled design into the mainstream, but never before has a show about design had the potential to be seen by so many people.

The accessibility and comprehensiveness of Netflix series’ such as this one has proven to be a successful broadcasting model and is being replicated online in other formats too, such as in the subscription-based educational series Masterclass. This series encompasses lectures and workshops from creative talent in the dramatic arts, offering acting classes by Kevin Spacey and screenwriting classes by Aaron Sorkin.

A Masterclass by starchitect Frank Gehry has recently been added to their roster, cementing the public interest in learning more about design from masters of the craft.

Reviews for Abstract have been generally positive thus far. The only downside? Design fans must have an existing Netflix subscription to watch. Will it be the next thing on your binge list?

The post New Netflix Series Brings Design to the Masses first appeared on Dornob.

Compact closet organizers fold down and out from behind narrow doors, expanding into the room as needed then flipping back into place. Dishes and other kitchen accessories slide down from secret compartments, again via a simple digital control pad, then disappear again. A small dining table also folds open on demand below a built-in television screen – a small extension of the entertainment center.

The post Closet Home: A Compact, Remote-Controlled Dream Condo first appeared on Dornob.

Sorry, lion and witch sold separately. ?Still, the stage is set much like many of us imagined when we read the children’s classic as kids: a dark-painted room with wood-trimmed windows and antique wooden furniture, with a large dresser that looks strangely both foreboding and inviting.

Maple Seed Renovation specializes in custom projects, seeking “the balance of excellent design, well-executed craftsmanship, and natural materials” ?- hence, it should come as no surprise that the hidden space fits so beautifully in its context, and could be ‘just another vintage furnishing’ in this home.

Within the dresser, there is an opening to the recreational space beyond but also shelves on one side to store games and toys that the children can take with them when they enter, and still leave ‘inside’ when they exit. It may not be Narnia, but it could be as close as reality gets.

Other hidden doors and secret rooms come in many forms, from the classic fold-open bookcase (concealing closets or entire interior spaces) to sideways-sliding shelves and door-like hinged paintings.

The post Real-Life Secret Playroom Through a Narnia-Like Wardrobe first appeared on Dornob.

Everything for your home entertainment needs – built into a single, remote-control box. The push of a button transforms this compact system into a fully-functional media center with high-quality sound and a huge high-resolution flat television screen, complete with BluRay player and plenty of space to store your stuff.

Surround sound comes from the front as well as the slide-out ‘wings’ of this sleek design – not quite the same effect as all-around audio but that is the sacrifice for fitting everything into such a small-space unit, the hallmark of these crafty Boxetti room-in-a-box designs.

Extra shelves and storage nooks make room for your media collections, be they vintage CDs or contemporary DVDs or other video discs of various kinds. Closed up this system could be anything, but opened it is definitely a very unique and dynamic all-in-one media unit.

The post Media in a Box: Modular TV & Hi-Fi-Speaker Sound System first appeared on Dornob.

The post Submarine Extremes: Nautilus-Themed Home Theater first appeared on Dornob.

If you thought beds were just built for sleeping, think again – or at least sleep on it to be sure. The gadget-loaded HiCan bed design is so tech-heavy it is a virtual all-in-one stand-alone room with everything you need to read, relax and remain comfortably isolated and asleep or to stay awake and entertained. Then there’s the company’s second product, the HiBed, which performs many of the same futuristic smart bed functions in a more streamlined, minimalist package.

A theater screen pulls down at the foot of the bed for viewing television or movies. An integrated personal computer system means you can work or surf the web in bed as well. Game consoles are built in for added entertainment value. Lights for reading and shades for sleeping are also fully integrated.

While pictured here as part of large and luxurious bedrooms of various kinds, the HiCan and HiBed designs seem like the perfect candidates for a cramped urban condo or compact studio apartment as well – you could essentially put one in a room with a door and make it a bedroom interior and entertainment center entirely unto itself. These high tech smart bed designs are the future, and they’re pretty awesome.

“HiCan is a contemporary and technological cocoon, a private sanctuary where you can enjoy a new concept of lifestyle and comfort,” say the designers. “A perfect blend of design and technology to make life experience more authentic.”

“We see ourselves as early explores of the Internet of Furniture. We started reinventing the bed, which is the single piece of furniture where we spent majority of our life. We are the inventors of the first smart bed ever conceived:
HiCan, and we are now at our 2nd generation smart bed: HiBed. We think that the space around us shall be our next smart device and we are working to enable it, regardless if we are at home, in the office or in a hotel, to take care of our wellbeing and health completely contactless and effortless.”

The post High-Tech Smart Bed with Built-In TV first appeared on Dornob.